The reef was slippery from the wind and rain.
But for a ninja, it wasn't difficult to walk on.
Karin hopped down energetically.
She raised her hand high, as if trying to grasp the sea breeze, but all she caught was the damp moisture clinging to her palm.
She turned back, wanting to say something to Naruto.
But before she could speak, a flash of golden light appeared before her.
Naruto had moved in an instant, a serious expression on his face.
He turned his head to the left and shouted, "You over there—come out!"
He pointed sharply, channeling his chakra.
"Hadō #4: Byakurai."
A flash of white lightning shot forth, striking and exploding with a loud crash.
Karin shrank behind Naruto and looked in the direction he attacked.
The moist environment produced little smoke—only scattered sand and shattered stones.
The view was clear—just a rocky beach with no obstacles.
But there was nothing resembling a "person" or a "puppet."
"It looks like no one's there," she said softly.
Naruto frowned.
Nothing was visible to the eye.
And within his sensory field, that spot didn't contain any chakra.
His attack had only hit the ground.
But—
Just now, in that brief moment, he had clearly sensed a wave of malice.
Like a thorn against his back—definitely human malice.
There was no doubt about his sensory perception.
So—it must have been someone extremely skilled at concealing themselves.
Had they not leaked that malice, he wouldn't have detected them at all.
To think he had just left Konoha and was already being tailed by such people.
Who could it be?
That Uchiha?
Or someone else after the Nine-Tails or himself?
Just like now—hiding nearby—though to his eyes, their chakra signatures were glaringly obvious.
Underground.
A man with his head encased in a massive Venus flytrap-like plant, half black and half white, shivered in fright.
"That was close. Almost got hit," said the white half in a frivolous tone. "He found us!"
"How did he do it?"
The black half's tone was heavy. "So sharp…"
He had always been confident in his stealth. He had hidden from people stronger than Naruto.
And not just one person—not just once!
But this guy—
"We need to be even more careful from now on," whispered the white half. "But the good news is—we've found his trail."
"Inform Shu and Nan—the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is heading to the Land of Whirlpools."
He referred to Uchiha Itachi and Hoshigaki Kisame—members of the same organization.
The black half said no more and vanished into the earth.
"What is it?" Karin tugged at Naruto's sleeve.
Naruto shook his head and turned to the reef. "You three over there—no need to hide. Come out."
Karin looked again in that direction.
Waves crashed loudly against the rocks.
There were more people there?
Naruto didn't repeat himself. He simply raised his hand and fired again.
Once more, white lightning flashed, blasting through the rocks and tearing across the waves.
Three figures instantly appeared, forced to reveal themselves.
They were all wearing earth-toned flak jackets and masks.
"Iwa Village ANBU?" Karin stared at the forehead symbols—twin mountain icons—immediately identifying them.
"Please don't be alarmed," said the central ANBU, raising his hands to show they were empty. "We mean no harm."
Naruto stared at them.
"We were sent by Lord Ōnoki, the Tsuchikage," the man continued, seeing Naruto wasn't attacking. He cautiously went on, "To extend an invitation to the hero who defeated the S-class rogue ninja Orochimaru—namely, Lord Uzumaki."
"If you're unhappy in Konoha…"
"Why not consider joining another village?"
He spoke carefully, trying to sound as sincere as possible.
Naruto smiled faintly.
The three ANBU members sighed in relief.
But the next moment—
"What are you probing for?" a voice whispered beside the ANBU leader's ear.
Suddenly, the view changed.
Only the red-haired girl remained in sight.
The blond boy was gone.
Instead, he had appeared at the ANBU's side, his hand already on the man's mask.
The man tried to retreat.
But—
A crushing pressure paralyzed him, turning his body to stone and halting his chakra.
The link between his brain and body had been severed.
Naruto removed his mask, revealing a rugged, dark, weather-beaten face—distinctly of the Land of Earth.
He hadn't made a single mistake in recognition.
Which only made the ANBU more terrified.
He couldn't move. What was this jutsu?
Genjutsu?
Or the Nara Clan's shadow-binding technique?
But whether it was genjutsu or the Nara's secret technique, could it truly be this strong?
To control someone so completely, without impairing his own movement at all?
Naruto let go, allowing the mask to fall.
"I really hate this kind of approach."
The mask hit the sand silently.
Was their purpose to recruit him?
Not at all.
Despite Naruto's limited experience compared to other captains, he could see through such petty tricks.
"Recruitment" was just a cover.
They were probing him—
Trying to find out whether he had left Konoha on good terms, or was now its enemy.
The answer was the latter.
But did he owe them an explanation?
He wouldn't side with Konoha.
But he wouldn't side with any other village either.
Naruto turned and slowly walked toward Karin, raising his hand. "Let's go. We're heading back."
The red-haired girl nodded and followed.
Their steps were light, leaving only faint imprints on the sand.
But to the three ANBU—
The pressure emanating from the blond boy was overwhelming.
Only when he had completely vanished from sight—
Did the crushing weight finally lift.
Their shattered wills finally relayed signals to their bodies.
The three ANBU collapsed on the sand.
"What's with that kid?" the one on the left removed his mask, gasping for breath as sweat poured from his forehead. "What was that aura?"
"So the report about him killing Orochimaru was true," said another, still wearing his mask but trembling. "It wasn't misinformation from Konoha."
"He absolutely could've done it!"
"Even without using the power of the Nine-Tails, he could've done it."
He reached for his neck, trembling.
No wounds, no blood. Intact.
Thank goodness.
He had feared he was already dead—that the boy's strike had been so fast, his body hadn't even registered it.
The man in the center stared blankly at the sky, silent.
He had borne the brunt of the pressure.
"The Jinchuriki didn't express any opinion about Konoha," said the man on the left, his mind slowly catching up to the mission.
The central man immediately turned sharply. "What are you thinking?"
"That was clearly a warning. If we approach him again—we're dead!"
"We've already confirmed his strength."
"That's enough to report back to the village."
The man on the left shook his head, wanting nothing more to do with the blond youth. "No, of course not!"
"I'm just wondering—why didn't he say anything?"
"Just a single sentence…"
The man on the far right whispered, "Does a strong man need to explain himself to the weak?"
"He disliked our methods."
"So how could he possibly satisfy our objectives?"
"Be grateful—Captain chose not to kill us."
"It's good… we're still alive."
(End of Chapter)